Road to good health

ARE YOU eating right? About time you asked yourself that question, say medical specialists.

A bad dietary lifestyle and equally bad habits could create the malady in the abdomen which everyone dreads - ulcers. October 1 to 7 is Ulcer Awareness Day, and one city-based voluntary organisation, GE Care says this is the best time to tell people all about it.

Stress could be a major causative factor in development of ulcers, but everyone could control the other contributory aspects like smoking, alcohol, excessive intake of coffee and tea as well as eating habits.

Ulcer, or Peptic Ulcer Disease is caused today in most of the situations by an infecting agent, Helicobacter pylori, says Dr.S.M.Chandramohan, a founder-member of Gastrointestinal Cancer Care Centre, a voluntary organisation in the city.

Studies show that ulcer incidence is high in individuals who experience ``too much competition''. There is an established link between prescribed job stress and ulcer. Anxiety and helplessness in the face of stress predisposes, precipitates and sustains ulceration.

In the Indian context, there are some interesting sidelights about food habits that few would be aware of: ``There is a common misconception among people that ulcer is common among those eating chillies. But studies have shown that `capsaicin', the pungent principle in it, is actually ulcer protective'', says Dr.Chandramohan, adding, however, that it is common to hear from ulcer patients that eating onion, fried food, spices and citrus fruits aggravates their condition.

What is more, studies on rats show that unrefined wheat and wheat bran are protective in ulcer, while refined wheat is not. Ulcer is also more common in rice-eating South Indians than those who consume wheat.

Another important factor is the consumption of `pain killers', particularly among those who are old and have a condition requiring such medication.

The causes of ulcer are many, and in some individuals, they could be found in a combination - stress, drinking excessive coffee and tea, drinking, irregular dietary habits and use of painkillers. Eliminate as many of these as you can, to guard against and control ulcer, says Dr.Chandramohan.

Ulcer Awareness Week is observed by the Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta in the United States and every city is encouraged to adopt it.

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Section  : Features